I have this teeny tiny scratch on my finger. I'm talking tiny. I think it was a paper cut, but don't really know how I even got the scratch, it's that tiny and insignificant.

When I noticed it I cleaned it and then left it alone. It wasn't bleeding, it was tiny tiny tiny, so I figured that would be enough. Well that didn't do any good. It's now infected. It's swollen, it's red, it's angry, and it hurts. It's still tiny, even with the infection, but size really doesn't matter. It hurts!

It's Saturday, I'm not going out in the freezing cold to sit in a walk in clinic for 6 hours just so some doctor can tell me that it's infected, which I already know.

Anyone have any home remedy ideas, or a cream I can buy at the store? Any advice is appreciated to save me a trip to the doctor in this cold.

Your immune system has take a hit. Yes, I do have a solution. You can soak in salt water, keep it clean and away from animals; don't panic because you have kids and treated scraped knees and they have been fine right ? Just be patient and if that doesn't work buy LivRelief ointment at your pharmacy. I don't buy antibiotic cream anymore, after I found this and each little packet goes a long way !

Thank you Tickle. I'll try that. :)

Would give you a greenie, but I had to spread the rep. :(

I wonder if you have a glass splinter...

Thanks Joy. Doubt it's a splinter of glass, it's really tiny. I'm actually thinking it's because of the cold weather we've been having this last week. My skin tends to crack when it's cold out, the air here is very dry and no amount of moisturizing keeps the cracking at bay. This cut is literally the size of this "_". Super tiny, near the base of my pointy finger on the side.

I'll definitely try the salt water, and vinegar. I'm out of peroxide but I can send hubby to the store for that. I'll also try putting some antibiotic cream on it, and putting a bandaid on it, which I didn't do when I first noticed it (my bad).

Take D3, too -- daily. Start with 1,000 IUs a day and increase weekly.

D3? Is that a vitamin?

Yes, it is. I've had no finger splits from the cold since I've been taking D3.

I'll look into it. Thanks WG. :)

No antibiotic cream ! And why vinegar ? I have some of those lesions, Alty. I just do as I stated. My work keeps my hands tender in this cold weather !

It heels, then you have to clip away dead skin on the sides, or it opens up again.


D3? Is that a vitamin?

Sort of. A supplement like D that you get from the sun. I take D to keep my immune system balanced, but not in the summer as I am out in the garden a lot. The sun activates the D already in your body

I use triple antibiotic cream a lot. Works for me.
BACITRACIN
NEOMYCIN
POLYMYXIN
Vinegar, being acidic, is for the people who only want 'natural' products.

Thank you all. I'm going to try the salt water first, then put a bandaid on it. If that doesn't work then I'll try some of the other suggestions. I will look into vitamin D tablets because unfortunately I do live in a part of the world that doesn't get a lot of sun for half the year.

My mom swore by vinegar, and I've used vinegar on minor infections that the pets have had, and it's worked wonders (I do water it down so that it doesn't sting). I don't know why I didn't think of salt or vinegar. Hey, if I eat a bowl of salt and vinegar chips is that good enough? ;)

I have stitched up some wounds, people and animals. I would not go near any antibiotic cream, especially after it has been opened up and contaminated. Great it works for you joy. As for vinegar, nope.

I use Vicks for small cuts, and put a band aid on it. It usually does a good job of drawing out the infection too. Old school.

Vicks vapor rub Catonsville? Doesn't that sting?

1,000 IUs of D3 gel capsules a day, and you won't ever have to think of soaking or smearing goop again.

I'll definitely look into that WG. I know I should be taking vitamin D, especially because of where I live and having no access to the suns natural healing for at least 6 months or more of the year.

I did soak the scratch in salt water last night. I then put hydrogen peroxide on it and some vitamin E cream and wrapped a bandaid around it for the night.

It's still sore, and angry looking, so I'll do the salt water a few more times today, until it starts to look and feel better. If it's not any better by Tuesday, I'm going to my doctor. :)

Vicks vapor rub Catonsville? Doesn't that sting?

Never had any sting problems with it. Nice for a chest rub also loosens up congestion. Wouldn't be without in the med cabinet. May not be for everyone.

Never had any sting problems with it. Nice for a chest rub also loosens up congestion. Wouldn't be without in the med cabinet.

I feel the same way. We always have Vicks on hand, it's our medicine of choice when we have a chest cold. But I never would have thought to put it on a cut, especially for an infected cut. I'll do some research before I try it, but thanks for the suggestion. I'm willing to try anything at this point. This little cut sure is becoming a big pain.

I'd go for amputation at this point.

I'd go for amputation at this point.

LMAO! We'll see what happens on Tuesday. :)

Old school. Yes really old school. Vicks contains camphor oil, not what you would put on a cut! And yes, it burns to the point of second degree.

I don't really think he does this.

This tiny scratch mushroomed into something I would deal with, and do every day, in a minuscule way, Alty.

You are a mom, come on ! Surely you have dealt with many scrapes and bruises before this !

"I don't really think he does this".

Wrong, I do that mainly to keep infection at bay. No I will not cut myself to prove it though. Generally men's hands are a bit tougher than a woman's. Please, that is not a sexist statement.

Yes, I am a mom, and I deal with scrapes and bruises all the time. But my kids have never had a cut get infected, so this is new to me.